Top News:
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Maddon: Kazmir's Game 5 start is no suprise — Saying he was not a fan of “last-minute changes,” Rays manager Joe Maddon met with the media today at Fenway Park to explain that the sudden switch he made from James Shields to Scott Kazmir as his Game 5 starter Thursday night against the Red Sox was, in fact, a premeditated move.
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ESPN:
Rays pulling tarp off upper-deck seats at the Trop — The nosebleed seats in the upper deck of Tropicana Field will no longer be draped in blue when the Tampa Bay Rays come back home — whether that's for Game 6 of the American League Championship Series or Game 1 of the World Series.
Discussion:
ESPN.com, Baseball Digest Daily Blog, Bugs & Cranks, Washington Post, Red Sox Monster and Baseball Musings
Brant James / St. Petersburg Times:
Even for Red Sox, it's ‘hit the panic button’ — BOSTON — On Monday night, “panic” was overstating it. After another blowout loss that dropped them one game from elimination in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series, “panic” was about right, second baseman Dustin Pedroia said.
Ian / SOX & Dawgs:
Even Joe Maddon Doesn't Like Craig Sager's Outfits — Before last night's massacre of the Boston Red Sox by the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the ALCS, the TBS cameras caught Rays skipper Joe Maddon taking a gander at the ridiculous outfit that Craig Sager had on. — Did he really blow him a kiss?
John Perrotto / Unfiltered:ALCS Game 4 pre-game tidbits
Discussion:
Boston Globe, SOX & Dawgs, THE BASEBALL SAVANT, Bluebird Banter, Associated Press, 6-4-2 and SOX1FAN
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Organization feeling out trade offers for Padres staff ace Peavy — Kevin Towers said last month it would be “very, very difficult to trade Jake Peavy” because of the ace pitcher's value to the Padres. Nonetheless, the general manager is open to trade offers for Peavy …
Discussion:
Sabernomics, C70 At The Bat, Ducksnorts, Gaslamp Ball, It is about the money, stupid and Halos Heaven
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David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Enough postseason, let's get to Peavy — So I'm getting the distinct impression that most of you on the Braves/MIB blog would like to be done already with this postseason so we can get on to important stuff: the Braves' pursuit of starting pitchers and a power-hitting outfielder.
Tim Dierkes / MLB Rumors:
Olney On Pettitte, Mussina — By Tim Dierkes [October 15 at 10:52am CST] — Lots of good stuff from ESPN's Buster Olney today. His scoop on the Yankees' free agent starters: — A longtime friend of Andy Pettitte reiterated that the left-hander intends to pitch in 2009 …
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Paul Pringle / Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers tap into anger about their unruly home fans — Dodgers fans cheer for Manny Ramirez after he hits a double in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series against Philadelphia. Team spokesman Charles Steinberg conceded the issue of alcohol-fueled rowdiness “is not solved.”
Mandi Illuzzi / Us Weekly:
Source: Madonna and Alex Rodriguez Are “Definitely Romantic” — As Madonna announces her divorce from husband Guy Ritchie, a source close to the singer tells Usmagazine.com she and the New York Yankees slugger “are definitely romantic.” — “Guy is not involved in this equation,” the insider tells Usmagazine.com.
Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs prospects learn in Fall League — Hitting coach Sandberg helps educate young Solar Sox — CHICAGO — The Cubs' 2008 season may be over but for young players like Tyler Colvin and Darwin Barney, there's still plenty of baseball to be played. And they're lucky enough to be able to pick Ryne Sandberg's brain a little.
Discussion:
Cubs f/x
John Gonzalez / Philly.com:
A day later, still a hero — LOS ANGELES - On the day after, it was just as hard to process as it had been the night before. Matt Stairs hit a two-run homer, and now the Phils are just one win away from their first World Series in 15 years? That's the kind of thing that figures to completely short-circuit my already addled mind.
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Thole is Fall guy — Josh Thole (pictured) became a Florida State League All-Star in 2008, hitting .300 in 111 games with St. Lucie to burst onto the scene as perhaps the Mets' top catching prospect, rivaling Francisco Pena and Dock Doyle. Thole, a 13th-round pick out of high school in Breese …
